Educational pop-up toy



Oct. 17, 1961 Filed March 1, 1960 R. B. KLAMER ET AL EDUCATIONAL POP-UP TOY HII 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 REUBEN B. KLAMER, &

DONALD W. HERRICK Inventors HERZIG 8: JESSUP,

Attorneys Oct. 17, 1961 R. B. KLAMER EI'AL 3,004,353

EDUCATIONAL POP-UP TOY Filed March 1, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 REUBEN B. KLAMER 8: DONALD W. HERR-ICK Inventors HERZIG 8: JESSUP Attorneys EDUCATIONAL POP-U1 TOY Reuben B. Klarner, Pacific Palisades, and Donald W. Herrick, Lawndale, Calif, assignors to Link Research Corporation, Beverly Hills, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Mar. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 12,074

2 Claims. (Cl. 35-22) This invention relates to a pop-up toy and more particularly to a toy simulating a typewriter and having a plurality of simulated type keys positionable on the toy and ejectable from the toy in pop-up fashion.

This invention provides a toy designed more particularly for children at the age level at which they begin to discern and match configurations of objects relative to sockets therefore, i.e., asquare block in a square hole stage, which is also the age level at which children delight in knocking down or knocking apart structures which they have stacked or constructed. It is an age level at which it has been found that achild enjoys particularly to see objects flying upwardly into the air in reaction to his effort. Since this age level also includes the beginning of the ability to discern configurations of objects, the invention further provides an educational value by requiring such distinction by the child in order to assemble the toy before it can be knocked apart or popped up.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved pop-up toy which provides improved educational value while providing amusement for children at the above mentioned age level. Another object of this invention is to provide improved manually operable means for ejecting objects, in the form of simulated type keys, from a top, simulating a typewriter, in pop-up fashion which is easily and readily operable.

It is a further object of this invention to 'provideob jects ejectable by the manually operated means and openings therefor, in which the objects are insertable for United States Patent 3,004,353 Patented Oct. 17, 1961 sectional view taken substantially along the line of 6-6 ,Qf F t 'FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view, similar to the left portion of FIG. 2, showing portions thereof in a changed position; and FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspectve view, in elevation, showing an element of the invention in greater detail. Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown, by way of illustration, but not of limitation; a pop-up toy, generally designated by the numeral 10 and designed and constructed in accordance with this invention. The toy 10 comprises a hollow housing 11 having an outer appearance generally simulating an actual typewriter and including a top wall 12, side walls 13, a front wall 14 and an open bottom 16, the open bottom 16 being closed at the bottom by a removable, or optionally permanently secured, bottom wall17. The housing 11 is preferably molded, die cast, or otherwise formed of an easily formable material, such as plastics or the like, and preferably of a high impact plastics material which 7 is capable of rough usage normally associated with chil:

dren at the age level for which the toy is intended.

One of the features of this invention is the provision of educational means requiring distinction by the user of various forms and configurations to place objects in a position for ejection from the housing.

For this purpose, a plurality of openings 17 are formed in the top Wall 12, each opening 17 having a different configuration, the configurations illustrated herein closely resembling letters of the alphabet. For convenience,

. inasmuch as the top wall 12 is sloped downwardly to simengagement by an ejector means, whereby recognition of the configuration of the object relative to a complementary opening is required by the child in order to assemble the toy before it can be actuated to pop up.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved pop-up toy, of the character described, which is economical to manufacture and capable of mass production.

A still further object of this invention is to provide means on the objects themselves causing the objects to fly in a pre-determined direction upon actuation of the t ejection means.

These and other objects of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, in elevation, of a pop-up toy designed and constructed in accordance with this invention with an element thereof illustrated in exploded position for greater clarity.

FIG. 2 is a vertical, cross-sectional view, as taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view of the toy 0 FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical crosssectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 i ulate a typewriter, a plurality of bosses 18 extend substan-. tially vertically, through which the openings extend as best seen in FIGURES 1, 2 and .7.

A plurality of plugs 19, simulating type keys, are provided for insertion into the openings17, each plug 19 havinga configuration complementary to the configuration of one of the openings 17. Each plug 19 includes a hollowlbody of a high impact-material, such as plastics; or the like, which includes a depending boss 21 having an outer geometrical configuration complementary to and detachably fitting one ofthe openings 17, such as the plug 19 having a configuration of the letter D match: ing the opening 17 likewise having a configuration complementary thereto in the form of a letter D as it appears when cut out'of the top surface 22'of its boss 18. To prevent the plug 19 from fallingjthr'oughthe opening 17 into. the interior housing 1 1, a flange 23 is provided on an intermediate portion of the plug 19 and appreciably larger than the opening 17. A plurality of lugs are provided on the side of the flange 23 to keep the flange 23 Spaced above the top surface 22 whereby the plug 19 is more easily dislodged from its opening 17. An upwardly extending boss 26, having a configuration matching that of the lower portion 21 is provided above the flange 23 whereby the plug 19 may be identified by the configuration of the upper boss 26'to aid in matching one plug to its respective opening 17.

As'best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, each'plug 19 is preferably cast or otherwise formed in hollow form with an open bottom 27 and a web 28 integrally or otherwise secured and extending intermediately across the opening 27, each web 28having cam surfaces 29 for a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

In this manner, the toy 10provides educational means for aiding inthe development of the mind of the user by the; requirement ofdistinguishing between the configurations of plugs for insertion thereof into'matching openings 17; The bosses 26 above the flanges 23 are preferably appreciably shorter than the depending bosses 21 whereby further discrimination is required in that the plug will either not match its respective opening if an attempt is made to insert the plug in an upside down condition; e-.g;, the" letters B; C, and Z, or, in other forms, e.g., the letters A, -12), W, X and Y, which can be ostensibly inserted in an upside down position, can not be' ejected from the opening due'tothe length of the bosses 2 6. and the limited action of the ejectit'in means, as will be more apparent from the following description. After'the various plugsor' keys 19 have been properly inserted, means are provided whereby the child mayeject the plugs or cause themto pop-up upwardly from their openings I7 as 'a source of amusement. For this purpose an ejector means 31 is pivotally mounted within the housing H- and' actuatable by a manually operable actuator means 32 extending outwardly of the housing which, upon actuation, causes the plugs 1 9 tobe ejected or popped upoutwardly of their respectiveopenings 1-73 and away from the housing 11.

The ejector means 31 includes aaf'rame 33:- pivotally mounted in the housing 11 for arcuate movement to- Wards and away from the top-wall 1 2. The frame 33 includes a transverse member 34- having a plurality, four in number herein illustrated, of spaced rear-wardly extending arms 36, each arm having a pair-of" spaced,

upwardly-extending posts 37- secured theretoor integral therewith. Each post 37 is aligned with one of the openings 17. The frame 33 further includesa plurality of forwardly extending arms- 38, selective arms 38'. being connected by shafts 39 which are rotatablysupported in depending lugs 41; integral with or secured to-thezunderside of the top wall I'Z'of the housing. Tofacilitate assembly, the lugs 41 are preferably provided: with" openended slots 40 adapted. toreceive-the shafts 39- through a constricted opening-wherebythe shafts 39* aresnapped into place to pi votally mount the frame 33.. The frame 33 further includes a forwardly-extending lug: or arm 42 engageable with the underside of the actuator means 32 for translating downward pivotal movement of" the actuator means 32 to an upward movementof: the. ejector means 31'.

The ejector means 3 1:, when pivoted upwardly, bring I the posts 37- into contact with the. cam.- snrfaces 29. of their respective plugs 19 to: impart an impact tothe plugs and eject them outwardly of their. respective; open:- ing 17 and away from? the. housing 1:1. The. cam surfaces 29 of the plugs 19 are angularlyr disposed so as to cause the parts .19 to be projected forwardly as well as upwardly and towards the front of the housing. It is to be understood that the cams: 29 may be optionally varied so as to project. the plugs 19 in any desiredadh rection, such as rearwardly' or sidewardly, or combinations thereof, if desired;

The actuator means 32. includes a. manually operable transverse. bar. 43. extending outwardly of the. housing for manual. manipulation thereof. The actuating means 32 includes; a: pair: of arms 4'4 extending rearwardly through a. slot 46ofthefront wall 13 of the housing for pivotal securement. tothe housing; by means of pins 47 snapped. into open-ended, restricted slots. 48; of a pair of. depending lugs, 49 of. the. housing 11,. asbestseen in FIG;- 5..-

'lihe forwardlycxtending. arm 42: of the frame 33: extends beneath the bar 43, as best seen in 4,. for engagement therewith, whereby downward pivotal. movement of the. arm. 43,,as caused-by'the sharp striking-thereof by a child, causes thearm 42' to'be; pivotedz downwardly around theaxesof. the shafts 39=and thereby=the innen portion of the frame-33', having, the transverse member 34 and arms 36, to swing;upwardly to: cause. theposts 37 to comeinto contactwitlr theplugs19 inserted into the openings 1 7".. Release of. the bar 43-causesthe; inner portion'of theframe 33.1to drop downwardlvby the-force of gravity; to tbe'normal position shownin FIG. 2 and as determined by: abutment. of the arm 422with the bar 43 which is. lime itcd: by the'upper portionofi the slot 46 engagingthearm 44? as; at: 51 to stop the pivotal. movement of the frame in its: downward. direction; and the arm; 42 in; its: upward pivotal movement. The downward pivotal movement of the bar 43- is limitedbyengagement of the lower portion of the arm 44 with the lower end of the slot 46.

To further add to the enjoyment and amusement of the user, a sound-producing means 52 is provided and responsive to pivotal movement of the frame 33 to produce a sound when the ejector" means 31- is actuated to eject. the. plugs 19.. The sound-producing means 52 includes a resonator 53. secured to thehousing as at 54 and engageable by a hammer 56' resiliently secured to the ejector means; 31 for striking the; resonator. The hammer 56 is resiliently mounted by a coil spring 57 having a friction engagement at one end with a pin 58 0a. the hammer 5.6. and. av similar fit at v its. other end with. a pin. 59: extending: rearwardly from the, ejector means frame 33;.

To add further realism to the appearance. of the toy 1 0,1 for: simulating; a typewriter, and. to; thereby provide further amusement. to. thc. user;, a simulated cylindrical platen 60 is rotat-ably secured by. stub shafts. extending outwardly of its; ends and intorestrictedt slots 61. of: the housing: 11. The; platen. 60 includes.- a: knob 62. secured to the. outer'end ofeach; shaft 63 for manually-imparted rotation thereof. A. serrated or tootheddisc. 64- is integrallyformedi with the platen 6.0, or is optionally secured thereto, for rotation therewith, the disc 64: being. in engagement with an endiof a clicker member 66. secured within the. housing. 67 and having the. end- 68 extending outwardly of the housing for engagementwiththe wheel 64. As the platen: 60. is rotated, the. wheel causes the clicker member 66.- to. produce a clicking sound. Additionally, if desired, indicia, as indicated at 69,. may be provided; on the. platen. 60-. to aid in the education of the user.

While; we have; herein shown and described: our invention in what we have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within. the. scope of our invention, which: is not to be limited; to. the. details disclosed hereimbut. is to: be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices: and methods.

What: we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is; I i

1.. A. pop-up toy comprising:. a housing havingv an outer configuation: resembling a typewriter and having atop wall and sidewalls,,saidtop-wall having a plurality of openings extending. therethroug-h; a plurality of plugs detachably fitting said openings; an ejector means pivotally secured in said. housing and. having; a plurality of upstanding posts, each aligned with one of said openings; manually operable actuator means pivotally mounted in said housing and having a handle portion extending outwardly of said housing for manipulation thereof, said ejector means being engageable by said actuator means and responsive to pivotal movement of saidactuator means in one-direction, so as to pivot. upwardly and adjacent said top wall, and engage. each. of said posts with its respective plug so as to eject: said plugs. outwardly from said openings, each of said plugs being hollow and including a transverse web having a cam surface and saidpostsbeing so aligned as to engage said cam surface of said webs during upward pivotal movement of said ejector means and said. cam suface being, angular so as: to: direct said plugs outwardly of their respective openings in predetermined direction.

2;. A. pop-up toy comprising: a housing; having an Outer configuration resembling a typewriter and. having atop walland side walls said top wall having a plurality of openings extending therethrough; a plurality of plugs detachably fitting said openings; an ejector means pivotally secured in saidhousing and having a plurality of upstanding posts, each aligned with one of said openings; manually operable actuator means pivotal'ly mounted insaid housing and having a handle portion extending outwardly of said housing for manipulation thereof, said ejector means being engageable by said actuator means and responsive to pivotal movement of said actuator means in one direction, so as to pivot upwardly and adjacent said top wall, and engage each of said posts with its respective plug so as to eject said plugs outwardly from said openings, each of said plugs being hollow and including a transverse web having a cam surface and said posts being so aligned as to engage said cam surface of said webs during upward pivotal movement of said ejector means; said cam surface being angular so as to direct said plugs outwardly of their respective openings in predetermined direction, and flange means on said plugs, said flange means being appreciably larger than said openings so as to limit insertion of said plugs in said openings, whereby a lower portion of each plug extends into said housing and is engageable by said posts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

